Castro Says Cuban Economy Growing

Cuban President Fidel Castro says the country's economy is growing despite the U.S. government's long-standing trade embargo against the island.

The Cuban leader said Monday in a May Day speech lasting more than three hours that the current rate of growth was at 12.5 percent. Cuba, however, uses a calculation system that differs from the international standard.

As he spoke before hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Havana, Mr. Castro criticized the Bush administration for creating a transition plan for a post-Castro Cuba. Additionally, he said the U.S. characterization of his country as a state sponsor of terrorism was cynical.

Last Friday, the State Department released a report which again listed Cuba and five other countries, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism, which are subject to sanctions under U.S. law.